Improved retainer for tobacco-presses



noaa 'sata 3a-tent (tilting- Letters Patent N 92,227, dated July 6, 1869.

. IMPROVED RETAINER FOR TOBACCO-PRESSES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part Cf the 5me.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Exoon THOMAS, oflCraigs-v ville, in the county'ot' Augnstaandtate tif-Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Re# tamers tor Tobacco-Presses; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon. i l lhe nature of my invention mainly consists iuthe construction ofthe follower of the retainer of a tobac- .'co-p'e'"ss in threeI sections, which are jointed together in such a manner that the weight of the-u iiddle inclines the'end sections on an angle when the follower is raised to receive 'the tobacco, whereby two diagonal corners of the slots which slide on the uprights of the retainer are caused. to press hard upon the sides of said uprights, and thus hold the follower in its' elevated position until the mass to be pressed 'is placed under it, at which time the follower is lowered and thepressure applied. In the' accompanying drawings .Figure 1 is a/plan of the improved retainer.

Figure. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Like letters in both figures indicate the same parts.

A is the bed-plate. ofthe retainer.

B l5 are nprights, on which the follower O slides, by means of the vertical slotsa a. l

rlhe follower has end sections, C C', connected to it by means of the joints l) b, which pass from one edge to the other, so that when it is elevated for the l admission ofthe tobacco beneath it to be pressed, the middle section falls-out of line with the 'end sections,

' whereby the latter are turned somewhat out of their horizontal position, and thus cause diagonal corners of the slots, a a, to bind against the sides of the uprights l5 B, so as to hold the follower' in its elevated positionuntil the mass to be pressed is placed beneath it. e

The follower may have a wooden facing, D, (as seen in iig. 2,) securedto its underside, by means of screws, c, or iliade altogether of iron, of suine-lent thickness to resist the pressure.

'lhcre are straps, E, connected with the edges of the follower O and end sections G' G', by ineans of v joint pins d, to keep the sections laterally in place,

and keep the uprights B B in their vertical position.- l

l Fare keys,'byl means of which the follower is secured tirmly on the tobaccov after it isl pressed', and the pressing-torce withdrawn for the removal of the retainer.

At this'time the resisting force of the pressed mass has a tendency to spring the follower upward, hy which the latter is more securely held in place, as diagonal corners of the slots o a are thereby caused to hind upon the sides of the uprights l, and thus assist I the keys F F in holding 'the follower securely.

Hence, the keys do not require to be driven so tight as they otherwise would. v

The keys are made to slide upward when being tightened, and when loosened for the elevation Aof the follower, rest upontheir tail lugs c, and varc'thus pre vented binding upon the uprights B, so as to admit vof a freeupward movement ofthe follower.

The latter may be elevated by t-wo men, one at each end; butfor au extensive manufactory, where it is desirable to economize the number of hands, the windlass` (i should be used. y

H i'sa ratchet-wheel on the shaft G, into which the pawl I falls, to ret-ain the windlass in place. A

The journals f f turn in bearings in .the upperends' of the uprights B B, the uprights being slotted out above the journals, `(as seen in tig. 2,) forthe removal of 'the windlass when the retainer is to be placed in the press. v

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the slotted sections C' C' with the follower 0,*and nprights B B, the. said sections being connected with the follower by means ofthe' joints l) b, and straps L, the several parts being arranged and operating substantially in ,the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony/,that the above is my invention, I have hereunto set my hand 'and afixed my seal, this 23d day ofvOctober, 1868.'

' 'ENOCH THOMAS.. [L. 8.]

Witnesses:

STEPHEN Us'rICK, J ons E. LITTLETON. 

